CVE-2017-11705 in Ming
Summary
by MITRE
A memory leak was found in the function parseSWF_SHAPEWITHSTYLE in util/parser.c in Ming 0.4.8, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11705 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Ming library version 0.4.8, specifically within the parseSWF_SHAPEWITHSTYLE function located in util/parser.c. This memory leak vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during the parsing of Shockwave Flash files, creating a condition where allocated memory blocks are not properly released back to the system. The flaw manifests when the library processes specially crafted SWF files that contain malformed shape data structures, leading to progressive memory consumption that can ultimately exhaust available system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the function's failure to properly manage dynamic memory allocations when encountering specific patterns in SWF file structures. When the parseSWF_SHAPEWITHSTYLE function processes a maliciously crafted file, it allocates memory to store shape data but fails to implement proper cleanup routines for all allocated memory blocks. This memory leak follows a classic pattern of resource exhaustion where repeated processing of malicious files causes the application to consume increasing amounts of memory until system stability is compromised. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the parsing layer, meaning any application that utilizes the Ming library for SWF file processing becomes susceptible to this attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11705 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely degrade system performance and potentially cause application crashes or system instability. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting SWF files that trigger the memory leak condition, allowing them to consume system resources progressively over time. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where applications continuously process user-uploaded SWF content or where the library is used in web applications. The cumulative effect of memory leaks can lead to system-wide performance degradation, affecting not only the targeted application but potentially other processes running on the same system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the resource exhaustion category.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Ming library to version 0.4.9 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement input validation measures to filter potentially malicious SWF files before processing, particularly in environments where user uploads are accepted. Additionally, monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns in applications utilizing the Ming library can help detect exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the root cause by ensuring all allocated memory blocks are properly deallocated regardless of parsing success or failure conditions, thereby preventing the progressive memory consumption that leads to denial of service. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for SWF file processing and establishing automated monitoring systems to detect resource exhaustion conditions that may indicate exploitation attempts.